Fluorescent light fixture assembly

ABSTRACT

A fluorescent light fixture assembly having a channel holding a pair of brackets and a plurality of sockets so that the entire assembly can be packaged, stored and shipped in a package using only the space required by the channel. The brackets are detachably engageable with the channel and when engaged hold sockets securely, without screws or other fastening means, so that several fluorescent light tubes may be held exteriorly of the channel in a plurality of different locations, each in predetermined spatial relationship to the channel. A channel of minimum width may hold one, two or three light tubes, and a wider channel may hold up to five or more light tubes.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Edward F. Zurawski Chimgo, Ill. [21 1 Appl. No. 724,092 [22] Filed Apr. 25, 1968 [45] Patented Jan. 12, 1971 [73] Assignee Garcy Corporation a corporation of Illinois [54] FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE ASSEMBLY 9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 240/5l.1l, 240/1 1.4 [51] Int. Cl H05b 33/02 [50] Field ot'Search 240/51.l1, l 1.4, 9

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,080,476 3/1963 Golko 240/5 1.1 1

3,209,141 9/1965 Nieder-Westermann 3,349,237 10/1967 Jackson Primary Examiner-John M. Horan Assistant ExaminerRobert P. Greiner Attorney-Dressler, Goldsmith, Clement & Gordon 240/5l.l l 240/9 ABSTRACT: A fluorescent light fixture assembly having a channel holding a pair of brackets and a plurality of sockets so that the entire asembly can be packaged, stored and shipped in a package using only the space required by the channel. The brackets are detachably engageable with the channel and when engaged hold sockets securely, without screws or other fastening means, so that several fluorescent light tubes may be held exteriorly of the channel in a plurality of different locations, each in predetermined spatial relationship to the channel. A channel of minimum width may hold one, two or three light tubes, and a wider channel may hold up to five or more light tubes.

PATENTEDJAmmn 3555258 sum 1 or 2 A T TOPA/Er;

FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a fluorescent light fixture assembly, and is particularly concerned with means for securely holding sockets in fixed positions relative to a channel, without the use of screws or similar fastener elements, whereby fluorescent light tubes may be held exteriorly of the channel in predetermined spatial relationship.

Fluorescent light fixtures generally comprise a wiring channel and a pair of sockets secured adjacent opposite ends of the channel for each fluorescent light tube to be mounted in the fixture. The sockets heretofore have been secured in place individually by screws or by various types of retaining members that were secured to the fixture by screws. The use of small screws for individual securement of the sockets has added considerable cost to sizable installations because of the time required to thread each of the screws into position. Although the use of retaining members has reduced the cost by reducing the number of screws required, such retaining members have not been completely satisfactory forvarious reasons. Some of them are relatively expensive to fabricate, and the number of different arrangements of light tubes permitted with the same retaining members is relatively limited.

In accordance with the present invention, the sockets are held in place without any screws, and an inexpensive bracket used with a single channel construction permits several dif ferent arrangements for the light tubes. For example, two identical brackets mounted in opposite ends of a single channel are adapted to secure one, two or three pairs of sockets, without the use of screws for either the brackets or the sockets. Each pair of sockets is adapted to hold a fluorescent light tube that may be mounted below the channel, or on either side of it. The same structure also permits the mounting of two light tubes on opposite sides of the channel, or of one light tube on either side of the channel and another below it. Another possible variation comprises the mounting of a light tube on each side of the channel and a third light tube below the channel. A wider channel embodying the same principles permits the use of a bracket adapted to hold up to as many as five or more fluorescent light tubes.

Each bracket is provided with self-guiding means and is slid into position adjacent either end of the channel. Stop means on each bracket facilitates positioning it properly relative to the end of the channel. Each socket to be mounted is positioned adjacent one wall of the channel just before the bracket is slid into its final position, and when the bracket engages the stop means all of the sockets are securely held in place by interengagement of the bracket, the sockets, and the channel.

Suitable structure by means of which the above noted and other advantages of the invention are attained is described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing several preferred embodiments of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, on a reduced scale, showing one arrangement of fluorescent light tubes in a fixture embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded view showing one end of a fixture and the light sockets adapted to be mounted in the fixture;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a fixture with sockets mounted therein and with parts broken away to facilitate the illustration;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a filler block adapted for use with the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 4 and 7; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of another embcdiment of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 45 of the drawings, the fixture will be described in reference to the position of assembly as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, although it will be understood that the fixture usually will be inverted, as shown in FIG. 1, when it is in stalled.

As shown best in FIG. 2, the fixture comprises a boxlike frame such as channel 10 and a slidably locking member as bracket 11 adapted to be detachably mounted within the channel. After the fixture has been assembled, any suitable cover plate 12 may be secured to the channel in conventional manner to close the open side of the channel.

The channel it) comprises a bottom wall 13, two sidewalls 14, and two end walls 15. Two lips 16 extend longitudinally of the channel in a plane parallel to and above the plane of the bottom wall in spaced relationship to the sidewalls adjacent each end of the bottom wall. The structure is the same at both ends of the fixture, and therefore, only one end will be described. The lips 16 may be formed in any suitable manner, but preferably are struck out from the bottom wall and are directed outwardly toward the adjacent sidewalls. Each lip is spaced above the bottom wall a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the metal of which the bracket 11 is formed. i

The bracket lll comprises a top wall 17 and two sidewalls 18. A flange 19 extends inwardly from the lower edge of each sidewall and is slidably engageable with one of the lips 16. The flanges l9 fit between the lips. 16 and the bottom wall 13 tightly enough to hold the bracket against accidental sliding movement. Each flange is extended inwardly adjacent one end to provide a stop member 21 adapted to abut one end of the lip 16 to limit the sliding movement of the bracket in one direction. A guide flange 20 extends outwardly from the lower end of each sidewall 18 and is slidably engageable with the adjacent sidewall 14 of the channel. The guide flanges act as a self guide for the bracket and hold it so positioned relative to the channel as to insure proper alignment of the flanges 19 with the lips 16 when the bracket is slid longitudinally in the channel. When the bracket 11 is positioned within the channel with the flanges 19 under the lips 16, the top wall 17 is flush with the upper edges of the sidewalls 18 and the cover plate 12 may be mounted on the channel without interference from the bracket.

The channel 10 and a pair of brackets 11 cooperate to retain one or more pairs of sockets 22, each pair of which sockets is adapted to support a fluorescent light bulb 23 exteriorly of the channel in predetermined spatial relationship to the channel. The socket retaining structure will be more readily understood after the structure of the sockets is clear. Each socket 22 comprises a base 24 and a bulb holding portion 25 extending at right angles to the base adjacent one edge thereof. The base section 24 receives suitable wiring W (as illustrated in one of the sockets in FIG. 2) and bulb holding portion 25 receives the pins of a fluorescent tube in the area designated T. The base 2% has a recess 26 extending at right angles from the edge remote from the portion 25 through the entire thickness of the base. The bulb holding portion 25 defines slots 27 extending throughout its thickness at each edge adjacent the base 24.

The socket retaining structure of the channel and the bracket will now be described. Each channel sidewall M is provided with a recess 28 at each end thereof. The recesses 28 extend downwardly from the upper edge of the sidewall and terminate above the bottom wall 13. Each recess 28 is defined by a vertical edge 29 and a horizontal edge 31. Each bracket sidewall 18 has a protuberance 32 projecting outwardly therefrom for cooperating with the recess 26 in a manner hereinafter described. The top wall 17 of the bracket is provided with a recess 33 extending inwardly from the end remote from the stop members 21. The recess 33 is defined by two longitudinal edges 34 and a transverse edge 35.

In assembling the fixture, the channel is positioned as shown in H6. 2, and the bracket is positioned for sliding it into its socket retaining position. Each socket that is to be used is positioned with respect to the channel or the bracket before the bracket is slid into its socket retaining position. A socket 22 may be positioned with its base 24 engaging the inner surface of the sidewall M and its body portion 25 extending through the recess 28 with the edge 31 in one slot 27. The edge 29 is spaced from the end wall IS a distance equal to the thickness of the body portion 25 and holds one end. of the base 24 against the end wall l5. The sidewall 18 is spaced from the adjacent sidewall 14 a distance equal to the thickness of the base 2d, and the base is held firmly between the sidewalls lid and lb. The protuberance 32 engages the recess 26 to hold the recess 27 engaged with the edge 3i of the notch 28 and prevent accidental displacement of the socket.

Another socket 22 may be mounted on the bracket with its base 24 adjacent the underside of the top wall 17 and its recesses 27 engaging the edges 34 of the recess 33. The edge 35 is spaced from the end wall 15 the same distance as the edge 29 of the recess 28, and holds one end of the base 24 against the end wall 15.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. is substantially identical to that of FIGS. 1 to 4, and identical structure is indicated by the same reference numerals. The description of such structure will not be repeated. In FIG. 5, the channel 36 is wider than the channel to receive a bracket 37 having a top wall 38 wide enough to receive a plurality of sockets 22. Three sockets are mountedon the top wall 38, but it will be understood that the bracket and channel may be dimensioned to receive two sockets. The spacing between the sidewalls of the channel and the bracket is the same in FIG. 5 as in FIGS. 1 to 4.

in some installations, it may be desired to omit either one or both of the sockets shown as being mounted at the sides of the channel in the recesses 28. Of course the recesses 28 may be omitted from the sidewalls 14 of the channel. It is preferred to make all channels alike to simplify inventory and stock problems. The channels 10 are fabricated with a recess 28 adjacent each end of each longitudinal wall 14. if one of the sockets is to be omitted from either side of the channel, the recess 28 on that side of the channel may be plugged, as illustrated in FIG. 6. A plug 39 comprises a base 41 that is identical to the base A block d2 projecting from the base 41 is shaped to fit snugly in the recess 23 and has a thickness equal to the thickness of the wall 14 so that its outer surface is flush with the outer surface of the wall id. The base 14 is provided with a recess 26 that is engaged by a protuberance 32 in the same manner as the socket 22.

The embodiment of HG. 7 is difierent from the embodimerits previously described in that it does not support any side mounted sockets. The bracket d3 fits snugly within the channel 44 and the width of its top wall $5 is determined by the number of sockets to be held. The bracket is assembled with the channel by sliding it longitudinally to interengage the flanges l9 with the lips l6.

Although several preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustratire, rather than restrictive, as many details of construction may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, l do not desire to be restricted to the exact structure described.

l claim:

l. A fluorescent light fixture comprising a support frame and a bracket, and slidably disposed interengageable means on said frame and bracket whereby said bracket may be detachably and slidably mounted in said frame in position to hold a socket in predetermined spatial relationship to said frame, and in which said frame comprises a channel having a bottom wall and two sidewalls, said bracket comprises a top wall and two sidewalls, and said interengageable means cornprise a pair of lips extending longitudinally of said bottom wall in a plane above the plane of said bottom wall and a pair of flanges extending from the lower edges of said bracket sidewalls whereby said bracket may he slid longitudinally of said channel to position said flanges under said lips.

2. A fixture as recited in claim l in which said flanges are provided with stop members engageable with said lips to limit the longitudinal sliding movement of said bracket in one direction whereby said bracket is positioned in predetermined relationship to one end of said channel.

l. A fixture as recited in claim l in which each bracket sidewall has a second flange extending outwardly from its lower edge, said second flanges being slidably engageable with said channel sidewalls to guide said first mentioned flanges into engagement with said lips with each of said bracket sidewalls spaced rom the adjacent sidewall of said channel.

5. A fixture as recited in claim ll in which each sidewall of said .bracket has a protuberance extending outwardly therefrom for engagement with a socket having a base positioned between a bracket sidewall and the adjacent sidewall of said. channel. 6. A fluorescent light tube asembly comprising a frame, a pair of brackets and a plurality of sockets, said brackets and sockets being dimensioned to fit within said frame for storage, and cooperating'meahs onsaid frame, brackets and sockets comprising the sole means for securing a pair of sockets adjacent eachend of said channel to support a fluorescent light tube exteriorly of said channel in predetermined spatial relationship to said channel, and in which said frame comprises a channel having a bottom wall, two end walls, and two sidewalls, each of said brackets comprises a pair of sidewalls, each of said sockets has a base, and said cooperating means comprises a pair of lips in spaced parallel relationship to said bottom wall adjacent each of said end walls, flanges on said brackets slidably engageable with said lips to hold said brackets with their sidewalls in uniform parallel spaced relationship to said first mentioned sidewalls, a protuberance on each sidewall of each of said brackets, and a recess in each socket base engageable with one of said protuberances as each bracket is slid toward the adjacent end wall in engagement with one pair of said pair of lips, each of said socket bases having a thickness substantially equal to the distance between each bracket sidewall and the adjacent sidewall of said channel.

7. A fluorescent light tube assembly comprising a channel, a bracket and a plurality of sockets, said channel having integral means for holding said bracket adjacent one end thereof, said sockets each having a base fitting loosely within said channel adjacent each side thereof with its lighttube holding portion exteriorly of said channel, and said bracket having integral means for slidably guiding it into engagement with said first mentioned means and with said bases, whereby each of said sockets is firmly held in position to support one end of a fluorescent light tube exteriorly of said channel in predetermined spatial relationship to said channel, and in which said channel comprises a bottom wall, two end walls and two sidewalls, each of said sidewalls having a recess adjacent each end wall, each of said recesses being of sufficient width to receive the light tube holding portion of said sockets.

8. An assembly as recited in claim 7 in which said bracket comprises a top wall and two sidewalls, each of said bracket sidewalls has a flange extending inwardly from its lower edge, said first mentioned means comprises a pair of outwardly directed lips extending longitudinally of said bottom wall in a plane parallel to and spaced above said bottom wall, and said second mentioned means comprises a. pair of flanges extending outwardly from the lower edges of said bracket sidewalls into engagement with said channel sidewalls.

9. A fluorescent light fixture assembly comprising a channel having a bottom wall, two sidewalls and an end wall, a bracket having two sidewalls and a top wall, and a plurality of sockets, said bracket being slidable longitudinally in said channel, two outwardly directed lips extending longitudinally of said bottom wall in predetermined spaced relationship to said channel sidewalls and end wall, inwardly directed flanges extending from the lower edges of said bracket sidewalls and engageable with said lips to prevent accidental sliding movement of said bracket in said channel, and stop means on said flanges enwith one of said sockets to hold it in predetermined spatial relationship to said channel. 

1. A fluorescent light fixture comprising a support frame and a bracket, and slidably disposed interengageable means on said frame and bracket whereby said bracket may be detachably and slidably mounted in said frame in position to hold a socket in predetermined spatial relationship to said frame, and in which said frame comprises a channel having a bottom wall and two sidewalls, said bracket comprises a top wall and two sidewalls, and said interengageable means comprise a pair of lips extending longitudinally of said bottom wall in a plane above the plane of said bottom wall and a pair of flanges extending from the lower edges of said bracket sidewalls whereby said bracket may be slid longitudinally of said channel to position said flanges under said lips.
 2. A fixture as recited in claim 1 in which said flanges are provided with stop members engageable with said lips to limit the longitudinal sliding movement of said bracket in one direction whereby said bracket is positioned in predetermined relationship to one end of said channel.
 3. A fixture as recited in claim 2 in which said channel has an end wall and the end of said bracket top wall adjacent said end wall is provided with a recess, the edges of said top wall defining said recess being engageable with a socket to hold it in fixed position against said end wall.
 4. A fixture as recited in claim 1 in which each bracket sidewall has a second flange extending outwardly from its lower edge, said second flanges being slidably engageable with said channel sidewalls to guide said first mentioned flanges into engagement with said lips with each of said bracket sidewalls spaced from the adjacent sidewall of said channel.
 5. A fixture as recited in claim 4 in which each sidewall of said bracket has a protuberance extending outwardly therefrom for engagement with a socket having a base positioned between a bracket sidewall and the adjacent sidewall of said channel.
 6. A fluorescent light tube assembly comprising a frame, a pair of brackets and a plurality of sockets, said brackets and sockets being dimensioned to fit within said frame for storage, and cooperating means on said frame, brackets and sockets comprising the sole means for securing a pair of sockets adjacent each end of said channel to support a fluorescent light tube exteriorly of said channel in predetermined spatial relationship to said channel, and in which said frame comprises a channel having a bottom wall, two end walls, and two sidewalls, each of said brackets comprises a pair of sidewalls, each of said sockets has a base, and said cooperating means comprises a pair of lips in spaced parallel relationship to said bottom wall adjacent each of said end walls, flanges on said brackets slidably engageable with said lips to hold said brackets with their sidewalls in uniform parallel spaced relationship to said first mentioned sidewalls, a protuberance on each sidewall of each of said brackets, and a recess in each socket base engageable with one of said protuberances as each bracket is slid toward the adjacent end wall in engagement with one pair of said pair of lips, each of said socket bases having a thickness substantially equal to the distance between each bracket sidewall and the adjacent sidewall of said channel.
 7. A fluorescent light tube assembly comprising a channel, a bracket and a plurality of sockets, said channel having integral means for holding said bracket adjacent one end thereof, said sockets each having a base fitting loosely within said channel adjacent each side thereof with its light tube holding portion exteriorly of said channel, and said bracket having integral means for slidably guiding it into engagement with said first mentioned means and with said bases, whereby each of said sockets is firmly held in position to support one end of a fluorescent light tube exteriorly of said channel in predetermined spatial relationship to said channel, and in which said channel comprises a bottom wall, two end walls and two sidewalls, each of said sidewalls having a recess adjacent each end wall, each of said recesses being of sufficient width to receive the light tube holding portion of said sockets.
 8. An assembly as recited in claim 7 in which said bracket comprises a top wall and two sidewalls, each of said bracket sidewalls has a flange extending inwardly from its lower edge, said first mentioned means comprises a pair of outwardly directed lips extending longitudinally of said bottom wall in a plane parallel to and spaced above said bottom wall, and said second mentioned means comprises a pair of flanges extending outwardly from the lower edges of said bracket sidewalls into engagement with said channel sidewalls.
 9. A fluorescent light fixture assembly comprising a channel having a bottom wall, two sidewalls and an end wall, a bracket having two sidewalls and a top wall, and a plurality of sockets, said bracket being slidable longitudinally in said channel, two outwardly directed lips extending longitudinally of said bottom wall in predetermined spaced relationship to said channel sidewalls and end wall, inwardly directed flanges extending from the lower edges of said bracket sidewalls and engageable with said lips to prevent accidental sliding movement of said bracket in said channel, and stop means on said flanges engageable with said lips for locating said bracket with one end of said top wall adjacent said end wall, said bracket top wall having a plurality of recesses in said one end each engageable with one of said sockets to hold it in predetermined spatial relationship to said channel. 